Round 1 goes to Kirit Somaiya

The Bombay High Court yesterday asked Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna to refrain from publishing anything against BJP Member of Parliament Kirit Somaiya without verifying the facts. The court also ordered activist Kalpana Inamdar, who had accused Somaiya of investing black money in a realty project at Santacruz, not to hold any press conference in the matter until the case concludes.

In his petition, Somaiya had claimed that the allegations levelled against him by Inamdar that he had invested R15 crore in an SRA project under the name of Medha Builders were baseless. Justice SJ Kathawala was hearing the petition. Moreover, Somaiya has also filed a defamation suit against Inamdar’s organisation and claimed R1 crore in damages.

In his petition, Somaiya made Saamna editor Sanjay Raut and publisher Rajendra Bhaswat respondents alongside Inamdar. Two stories were published in Saamana on May 15 and May 21 against Somaiya that were based on the allegations levelled by Inamdar. Earlier, Somaiya had also levelled corruption charges against the Sena-led BMC.

Besides restraining Saamana from publishing articles against Somaiya and barring Inamdar from holding press conference as the matter was sub judice, Justice Kathawala directed the police to verify if their was any FIR registered against Inamdar. And if so, then what for. The matter will be now be heard in the next two weeks.